Fallen arches

Children whose feet exhibit fallen arches are those that have no arch on
the inside of the foot, this gives the appearance of a flat foot. Babies
will have feet with fallen arches, which is completely normal as the inside
arch of the foot is filled with a fat layer. Toddlers also have feet with
fallen arches, again, this is a perfectly normal stage of development for
this age group.

Your child's feet should begin to develop an inside arch of the foot by
approximately the age of five or six, sometimes the arch does not develop
and if this is the case then the cause of this should be investigated as
treatment is very much dependent upon the cause as neurological and
developmental conditions need to be investigated.

Lots of children have very flexible joints, which can cause the arch of the
foot to collapse. Not all children that fall into this category will
require treatment, treatment is only necessary if your child is
experiencing difficulty with walking or activities, or if they are
experiencing pain.

If your child has fallen arches Chiropody.co.uk can help. At
Chiropody.co.uk we will establish the cause of your child's fallen arches,
and will then devise a treatment plan specifically for them. The aim of any
podiatric intervention is to improve foot and lower limb function and
reduce pain.

What causes fallen arches?

The cause of your child's fallen arches may be attributed to:

Ligamentous laxity

Tarsal Coalition

Down Syndrome

Cerebral Palsy

For some children the cause of their flat feet is hereditary

What are the signs and symptoms of fallen arches?

If your child has fallen arches they will have feet that appear one of two
ways:

The child has an inside arch when non-weight bearing, which collapses
and becomes flat as soon as the child stands.

The child has no inside arch when both non-weight bearing and standing.

How are fallen arches diagnosed?

Chiropody.co.uk has podiatrists who are highly skilled in the diagnosis and
treatment of a variety of paediatric conditions that affect the foot and
the lower limb. Our podiatrists will assess your child's quality and range
of movement of the joints in their lower limb and perform a gait analysis,
if necessary a neurological assessment will take place.

All tests are painless and are required in order to establish the cause of
your child's fallen arches so that an appropriate treatment plan can take
place.

Benefits of podiatry for a child with fallen arches

Podiatry may benefit your child if they have fallen arches and it is deemed
that treatment is necessary. Benefits of podiatry for a child that has
fallen arches can include:

Reduced pain

Improved muscle flexibility

Improved muscle strength

Improved gait

What would podiatry for my child's fallen arches involve?

If your child has fallen arches a visit to Chiropody.co.uk would involve
the following:

Treatment for a child that has fallen arches varies according to each
individual patient. The treatment option most suitable for your child will
be discussed with you in full.

Summary

Fallen arches in children are feet that have no inside arch, some children
do have an arch when non-weight bearing, but this disappears or collapses
when the child bears weight. Other children have no inside arch to their
foot when both non weight bearing and weigh tbearing, these feet appear
completely flat.

There are a number of causes for fallen arches in children. Following an
assessment at Chiropody.co.uk our podiatrists will be able to diagnose the
cause of your child's fallen arches allowing them to devise a suitable
treatment plan, specific to you.